Question

What were the Navigation Acts of 1650-1654?

1) Laws passed by the British Parliament to regulate colonial trade and increase revenue for the British Empire.
2) Agreements between England and other European countries to establish trade routes and navigation rights.
3) Acts of piracy committed by British sailors during the 17th century.
4) Treaties signed by the American colonies to gain independence from British rule.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 1. The Navigation Acts were a series of laws by the British Parliament to control trade and increase revenue from the colonies by requiring use of English ships and imposing trade restrictions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Navigation Acts of 1651-1696

The Navigation Acts were a series of laws enacted by the British Parliament between 1651 and 1696. These acts were designed to tighten the government's control over trade between Britain, its colonies, and the rest of the world. The 1651 act mandated that all goods imported to England or its colonies be transported on English ships, with a majority English crew. This was followed by further acts, such as the Navigation Act of 1660, which listed enumerated articles that could only be shipped within the English Empire, and the Staple Act of 1663, which restricted the importing of goods to the colonies without first going through England. The Plantation Duty Act of 1673 sought to reduce smuggling by charging customs duties in the colonies.

Moreover, the Navigation Act of 1696 aimed to close loopholes and improve enforcement. It allowed royal officials to use writs of assistance to search for and seize illegal goods and created the Board of Trade to oversee commerce. The acts not only promoted English shipping and controlled colonial trade but also aimed to ensure that trade benefitted Britain economically.

To answer the student's question, the Navigation Acts of 1650-1654 were laws passed by the British Parliament to regulate colonial trade and increase revenue for the British Empire. Therefore, the correct choice from the provided options would be 1) Laws passed by the British Parliament to regulate colonial trade and increase revenue for the British Empire.